Success Stories from the DRC

Linda Lee - Exercise with GUSTO!

Linda Lee has been a regular at the Derby Recreation Center for many years. She and her husband Ray began using the fitness center when it was just a few pieces of equipment. Like most people, her devotion to regular exercise has been on again off again.

Each time Linda wanted to get back into the fitness routine, she was glad that DRC staff was willing to help her find the best fit for her exercise needs. After her knee surgery, Linda met with longtime DRC staff member, Rob McDonald and he helped her create a fitness routine that was gentle to her knee allowing her to return to better mobility.

Linda Lee and her personal trainer Cindy Chase

In 2008, Linda’s life changed dramatically when her husband died suddenly while they were on vacation. The subsequent stress from that life changing trauma caused her heart issues that took her to a cardiologist. Linda remembers clearly what the cardiologist told her… “Exercise with gusto.”

Linda returned to the DRC in September 2009, per doctor’s orders. She knew that without an accountability partner she may not continue. So she began working with a personal trainer, Susie Wilkes. Susie started working with Linda at her limited fitness level and gradually got Linda back to a strength and endurance level that allowed her to perform simple tasks that were previously difficult, like stair climbing.

Today Linda continues to work with a personal trainer and she enjoys the time she spends with Cindy Chase just as much as she appreciated the kind compassion she was shown by Susie. Her relationships with her personal trainers have kept her motivated. Linda meets with Cindy once a week and comes by 2 or 3 times per week to continue the program Cindy gives her to work on. In addition, Linda has found that Zumba Gold is a perfect fitness class for her and she enjoys the time it gives her with others who have a similar fitness level.

For Linda, the DRC is more than just a place to work out, it is a place she comes to be encouraged.

Tom Madrid - Tying your shoes shouldn't be hard

It was December 28, 2009. A day just like the one before. But on that day, Tom Madrid had an epiphany. He could no longer tie his shoes like he did in years past. Bending over was difficult since he had gained weight. To tie his shoes, he had to lift his foot to his opposite knee to reach his laces.

So that very day, he walked into the Derby Recreation Center and decided to change his life. And it all began with 3 laps around the track.

In the beginning all he could do was walk the track. But he kept walking. Every day. When walking got a little easier, he ran one lap. Then two. Tom also ventured into the fitness center to see what other things he should be doing to get fit. A fitness specialist showed him how to work the treadmill. Now he had another option for his workout routine.

Tom Madrid

After Tom had been in the fitness center a few times, he inquired about personal training. The DRC staff person gave him the specifics and mentioned that one of the trainers happened to be working out. He called one of the DRC’s personal trainers, Cody Scott, over and they talked about Tom’s current exercise routine and discussed his fitness goals. Cody encouraged Tom and gave him some ideas. Tom decided to invest in a couple of personal training sessions with Cody. After they worked together, Tom started gaining confidence and felt like he had a better road map for his fitness routine.

Now equipped with weight lifting techniques and familiar with the cardio equipment, Tom felt more comfortable with a daily exercise routine. Coming to the DRC was no longer a scary unknown. He now belonged.

Tom also changed his nutritional habits. He started paying attention to portions and serving sizes. He read labels. He kept track of his calorie intake. He made better food choices.

And Tom kept coming to the DRC. He started making friends with others in the fitness center. The staff was nice to him and he felt welcome. As he became more fit, he also made a point to be kind to others who looked like they were in the beginning stages of embarking on a new fitness lifestyle. He tries to encourage others, like he was encouraged when he started.

It has been 4 years. Tom has lost over 60 pounds. And he has gained so much more than he has lost.

Layne and Wes - The lunch hour workout

Layne Liebst and Wes Steele are lifelong friends. They met while playing youth sports in south Wichita, and their friendship continued through high school and is still going strong today as professional adults. While they have been friends forever, they haven’t always been workout partners. That is, not until Wes started a job at Spirit Aero Systems.

Layne has worked out the Derby Recreation Center on and off for the past 10 years. He knew that it was important to maintain his fitness level, even as the responsibilities of being a husband and father took more and more of his free time. Layne is also a Boeing employee and he had to schedule his workouts before or after work.

So when Layne’s friend Wes started his job at Spirit, it occurred to both of them that they could use their lunch hour to get their workouts in; now that they were only a parking lot apart from each other.

Wes and Layne on a lunch hour run

As a long time Derby Recreation Center member, Layne knew that the DRC’s Oaklawn Activity Center (OAC) was just minutes away from their offices. Wes signed up for his DRC membership and Wes and Layne developed a plan to make lunch hour workouts part of their daily routines. They thought lunch hour workouts would give them more time at home with their wives and kids.

When they started their exercise routine at the Oaklawn Activity Center, the DRC’s Fitness Programs Coordinator, Susie Wilkes, showed them how they could get a full workout and still have time to change and drive back to the office within an hour. Wes and Layne use all the cardio equipment, do a rotation through the fixed weight machines and even include some free weight lifting. A full daily workout without cutting into any of their family time.

Now that they have been doing their lunch workouts for over 6 months, there is no question where you will find Wes and Layne each workday during the lunch hour. Exercise is part of their day, and having the Oaklawn Activity Center right across the highway from work has made it easy.